Instead, those in the thinner-than-usual first-day crowd at the Empire Polo Club created their own fashion statements out of plastic bags and beach blankets to protect themselves from the rain and cold.
Kelly Mack and Jen Bluschi of Los Angeles walked almost arm-in-arm under a beach blanket they were planning to sit on.
“It's very different from last year,” Mack said. “It was sweltering, and we were dying, and I was falling asleep. But this year, it's freezing, and I don't think I could fall asleep if I tried. I would settle for a happy medium, but I don't think it exists.”
This is the first time in Coachella history that the festival has stretched over two weekends. It's also the first time it has rained.
Although it sprinkled intermittently and temperatures dropped into the 50s, it wasn't enough to spoil the opening night party.
“I'm not disappointed,” said Alexis Pain of Los Angeles, who was wearing short pants and a sleeveless top. “I think it's really great except for the whole weather thing.”
Guys like Scott Douglas of Canada danced wildly without a shirt and in shorts.
Most festival goers said they weren't upset they bought tickets to the opening weekend instead of the second.
“It's more exciting the first weekend,” said Bluschi, “just because you don't know what you're getting. So you're getting it the first time instead of anticipating it too much.”
“Absolutely,” said Brenda Argueta of Anaheim, who was wearing a plastic body bag. “It's the original weekend! I brought clothing for super freezing cold and blazing hot, so I'm prepared for any kind of weather.”
Despite the unusual weather, it was still a typically diverse music festival with a positive vibe created by a carnival atmosphere.
The most consistently large crowds were for the electronic acts in the Sahara Tent, such as Afrojack, Madeon and SebastiAn, who brought an unusual level of creativity to an afternoon audience that would normally dance themselves sweaty.
But Gary Clark Jr., who has been ordained as the next great blues star, brought his crowd in the Gobi Tent to a similar state of enthusiasm with his shredding guitar solos. Clark, who says he has rehearsed with his band just a couple times all year, performed without a set list and showed both his soul and blues influences. He built his finale, “Bright Lights,” inspired by the Jimmy Reed classic, into one of the festival highlights.
Jarvis Cocker, lead singer of Pulp, had to work hard to get that response on the main Coachella stage for his '90s anthem, “Common People,” possibly because a VIP crowd was standing at the front of the stage.
The Black Keys sustained that crowd spirit by starting their set with a rousing version of their two-year-old “Howlin' For You,” one of more than a half-dozen hits in the supplemented duo's repertoire.
Arctic Monkeys, who recorded their 2009 album, “Humbug,” in Joshua Tree with part-time desert resident Josh Homme, put a harder edge to their early pop hit, “You Look Good On the Dance Floor,” and also introduced some strong new material, including their latest single, “R U Mine,” which closed their set.
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, performing with a 10-piece band and two back-up singers led by Rancid's Tim Armstrong, was in good voice and energy, but had trouble connecting with his audience except on the ironic “I Can See Clearly Now” with its references to clear skies and rain being gone.
There were 17 arrests Friday, including 14 alcohol-related violations, plus three cases for drug possession, according to the Indio Police Department.
No comments:
Post a Comment